Loderick Matthews' Homestead
El Dorado, Union Co, Ak

John Comer took the first set of photos of Loderick's house, in late winter 2000 or 2001. The log section extends from one end of the house to the other, with the front porch section a part of the later additions. The house and cemetery are located on the North side of El Dorado.

The second set of pictures were taken in late March, 2003 and include close-up pictures taken with the permission of the current owner (Albert H.) of the property.

John remembers seeing this house in the 1940s when his family dentist lived there. Both John and his sister think it still had a "dog trot" hallway dividing the house then, but they are not sure. The property now belongs to the dentist's son (Albert) who lives in El Dorado. Albert has confirmed that the house was remodeled in the mid 1940s and the "dog trot" was enclosed. It is posted, but has experienced some vandalism.

A couple of years ago John spoke on the phone with Albert, asking directions to the cemetery, which is 100 - 200 yards west of the house. He told me John that he no longer owns that part of the property, which is so overgrown with trees, brush & vines, it's hidden from the house area and the road. There are some very large gravestones, mostly Reeves, and several seem to have been broken by falling trees, possibly downed by storm or ice.

The gravestones in this cemetery have been documented by the Union County Genealogy Society.

Arthur Matthews is the only Matthews stone in the cemetery. All the others appear to be connected with the Reeves family. (And Arthur was John Reeve's father-in-law.)

The house faces south, with Business 167 passing in front, going E-W. State Rt. 7 now runs along the East Side of the house, with an access road leading off from the North, joining Bus. 167 near the SE corner of Loderick's house. Back in the 1940s it was just "out on the Calion Road" leading out of El Dorado, and the looks of the setting have changed entirely since those days.

To see a larger image, simply click on the thumbnail.

1 Standing on Business 167, SW side of property, looking North and a little East.	2 Walking a few steps up the driveway to the gate.	3 Taken from the fence, as close as possible to the house. Looking North.
4 Standing as near the house as possible, telephoto brings it as close as possible.	5 On SE of house, where access road off of State 7 comes in from North to join Bus. 167.	6 Same view with a telephoto lens.
7 Taken from the nearby overpass bridge	El_Dorado_Map The location of the house is at the top of the map.	This is the end of the first set of pictures. The second set follows. The woods were too dense to be able to see the Ingram Reeves Cemetery where Arthur Matthews is buried.
DCP_1250 The first series of pictures were made outside the property, starting from the side & walking toward the front.	DCP_1251 The cabin was remodeled in the early 1940s by the current owner's grandfather	DCP_1252 The original structure was a "dog trot" log cabin with a sleeping loft. Both of the rooms had a mud brick fireplace on the side.
DCP_1253 The house now includes 29 of the original 120 acres.	DCP_1254 There were many pecan trees grown during the 1940s and later. A few still exist.	DCP_1255 When the fireplaces were removed, the openings were sealed with concrete.
DCP_1256 Windows, etc were added and the sleeping loft was sealed off.	DCP_1257 Nearby access road, looking north.	DCP_1258 Looking south
DCP_1259 Looking south along the fence line.	DCP_1260 Then scanning west	DCP_1261 a bit more
DCP_1262 a bit more	DCP_1263 a bit more	DCP_1264 a bit more and back to the road
DCP_1265 Similar shots looking west. Windows were added.	DCP_1266 The mud & stone chimney removed.	DCP_1267 and electrical service.
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Ingram Reeves Cemetery A Looking over fence from E side into what is now called the Ingram-Reeves Family Cemetery, not more than 100 -200 yards W of Loderick's house. The Union Co. Gen. Soc. cemetery canvas refers to cemetery as "Ingram-Reeves Family Cemetery," probably because those are the predominate names on the stones. They would have been unaware of the early Matthews connection. (Ingram family married into Reeves family. John Reeves married two of Arthur Matthew's daughters: first Martha, then Mary.	Ingram Reeves Cemetery B Arthur Matthew's gravestone, center. There are no other Matthews grave markers.	Ingram Reeves Cemetery C Arthur's gravestone, center. This is a relatively clear section of the cemetery. It's virtually impossible to get to the West side due to fallen trees, vines, and brush.